Archive for category: Interest

Batik

Batik is a dyeing technique facilitated by the intentional positioning of wax on fabric. As wax repels the dye it leaves areas free from colour which allows patterns to be created with one or more colours. Wax is removed using boiling water.

Whilst batik is often associated with Indonesia and more specifically the island of Java (the word ‘batik’ is taken from the Javanese language), there are traditions across the globe from Nigeria to India and the Philippines and unsurprisingly techniques and traditions vary from nation to nation.

Batik facts:

When a piece of fabric decorated using batik is to be worn, some patterns are reserved for certain body parts. Isosceles triangles are commonly for headwear and birds are often for wear on the body.

Drawing the patterns on the fabric with liquid wax is known as ‘canting’.

UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Rug creation

Oriental rugs must be simultaneously art, decoration and furniture and achieve all three successfully. As we know from previous blog posts, creating an Oriental rug is something that takes weeks, months or even years.

Of course, Oriental rug creation goes back thousands of years but its inclusion in this post is more to emphasise its role as art as this is often overlooked. True oriental rugs don’t allow for mass production on any large scale and each piece must be created with many hours of laborious work by a person rather than an algorithm-based machine that is capable of repetition.

Applique

Applique is a decorating technique that uses fabric stitched on top of other pieces to form a pattern. It’s name is of French origin but the name isn’t reserved for textile based art but instead refers to the technique regardless of material used. Clay for example is an alternative to soft textiles.

The word ‘appliqué’ can refer to both the technique and the material being stitched.

The art form is particularly important to the African nation of Benin

Appliqué began to emerge out of necessity in the 18th century although to exact origins are unknown

The Amalfi Corner Sofa defines what it means to be contemporary but doesn’t preclude itself from traditional surrounding. The pure white colour contrasts with the intricate patterns in a Persian rug to create a show stopping combination.

A chandelier isn’t the most obvious choice for most of us but alongside colourful designs and patterns, the intricacy of this piece works well. The website shows the chandelier amongst other furniture pieces including an Oriental rug.

When asked about what Iran has given to the world, the first answer of many is of course Persian rugs or indeed plentiful oil supplies! For a nation that claims a history going further back than biblical times, it’s not surprising that there’s a lot more to Iran and ancient Persia than this.

Alongside Persian rugs, the region boasts a fantastic history of pottery creation and just like the makers of rugs, Persian potters adjusted their artform over time to fit changes in society brought about by political turmoil. Much of this is reflected in the materials used and methods of production, which is evident in the pieces that exist today.

For those interested in viewing some beautiful examples, there are extensive collections held at the British Museum in London, the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg and at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.

Although silk is a material produced predominantly in south east Asia, being at the heart of the infamous Silk road which functioned as the transport and communication backbone between Europe and Asia gave Persia access to this wonderful material from which many beautiful garments could be crafted. Such garments are culturally attached to the Middle East rather than China.

Whilst Men are forbidden to wear silk garments under Islamic teaching, the material was widely used for women’s clothing and as such demand remained very high and a substantial industry existed for production.

One of the more obvious exports from Persia is the cuisine which is widely available throughout the UK especially in London where pockets of Persian restaurants exist. From unique lamb dishes through to a creative use of fruits and vegetables, Persian cuisine is in fact a fusion of Anatolian, Mesopotamian and Greek cuisine to name but a few.

Iran’s location in Asia but close proximity to both Africa and Europe gives it an advantage in terms of trade and as such influences can be seen both to the west and indeed the east.

The addition of a Persian rug can make a beautiful and often richly coloured and intricately patterned adornment to a room. As well as lifting the appearance of the room and creating an instant impression of warmth and luxury, a sumptuous oriental rug of any kind makes a statement about the taste of the person who has put their thought and talent into designing the room. Even guests who do not consciously look down and take notice of the rug’s beauty will appreciate the inviting atmosphere it helps to create, while those who are more observant will not fail to appreciate its visual appeal. However, as with any other feature of a room, the appearance of a Persian rug can be enhanced with careful lighting, or be sadly diminished if no consideration is given to it at all.

It is a sad fact that today many room designs fall short of their potential simply because insufficient thought is put into the lighting. Indoor lighting for Persian rugs is a particularly important consideration, as some rugs are best kept out of direct sunlight in order to preserve the richness of their colours. While many rug owners do their utmost to position them so that they are not subjected to direct sunlight or to heavy traffic areas of the room, they may not think of making the additional effort to choose the kind of lighting that ensures that the rug’s sumptuous design is lit to its best possible advantage.

As well as considering how and where the light falls on the rug in order to showcase its beauty, it is also helpful to consider whether the lamps and light fittings selected harmonise with the appearance of the rug. If you are going for a mainly minimalist look, offset by the vibrancy of the rug, light fittings in neutral colours and simple shapes can be positioned to draw attention to a beautiful Persian rug; all without competing with it for the eye’s attention. Rather than having simple lamps that make a striking contrast with the ornateness of the rug, you may prefer to complement it by featuring light fittings which draw on traditional Arabian lantern designs. For example, silver or brass lamps with ornate filigree patterns can add to a room’s luxurious and exotic ambience, while charming Ottoman style mosaic lamps, can, like the rugs themselves, add an exuberant splash of colour to the room.

Genuine Persian rugs are beautiful, handmade works of art, but they often command a high price. Can an expensive product ever be a suitable gift for a loved one? Quite possibly, and here are five reasons why.
Firstly, a Persian rug will last the owner a lifetime. They are so well made, from such high quality fabric, that, providing they are looked after properly, Persian rugs will easily last for several decades. Genuine Persian rugs are made by artisans in Iran and the reason that they are so expensive is down to the time taken to produce a single rug, and the top quality wool, or cotton, used to produce them. Some older rugs are even made of silk.

Secondly, they are beautiful. Genuine Persian rugs are handmade in Iran, and each one is an original piece of art. They make fantastic gifts as something a little different for art lovers.

Thirdly, Persian rugs are available in a range of sizes, so despite the high prices, they aren’t entirely inaccessible. A rug smaller than six feet by four feet is known as a Qālicheh, and tends to be more affordable than larger rugs, which are known as Farsh.
Persian rugs retain their value very well and are of course collectable, antique rugs are often very valuable. So a Persian rug can actually be something of an investment, and really is the gift that keeps on giving. Rugs older than 100 years are known as antiques, and rugs that are 50-99 years old are known as semi-antiques.

Lastly, if you don’t want to buy such an expensive, quality gift only to have it trampled all over, Persian rugs can be hung instead. They look great mounted on a wall and make an eye-catching feature.

As we have seen, if you’re able to purchase one Persian rugs make great gifts, and if you can’t think of anyone that deserves such an exquisite gift, you could always treat yourself to one!

When buying a Persian rug, always use a reputable dealer to ensure that you are buying a genuine one. Machine-stitched rugs may be a lot cheaper than genuine rugs, but they are often not as beautiful or offer the same quality.

You walk all over it every day, you drag furniture across it, tread dirt into it, spill drinks on it and let pets roll on it – don’t you think your rug deserves a bit of a break? Before vacuum cleaners, we used to clean our rugs by airing them out, beating the dust out of them and rinsing them thoroughly. But how do you know when it’s time to give your rug that bit of extra attention once more?

1. If you have allergies

Your rug may look clean, but tightly knotted or deep piled rugs and carpets can hold a huge amount of dust and grime – up to a pound per square foot, according to some estimates. This may be irritating your families allergies or conditions such as asthma, without you even realising it.

2. If you have a furry friend

There is nothing that your cat or dog enjoys more than a nice roll around in something smelly. Then they come back into your house and stretch out on your rug – great. Not only are they transferring all the muck from outside into the fibres of your rug, they are clogging it up with animal hairs as well. This warrants a deep clean.

3. If you have tried to clean it yourself

You started out with the best intentions, but when you scrub and rub at a rug, you damage the fibres and end up with a rough patch of pile which is hard to miss.

4. If your rug is an antique

A well-made rug will last for a hundred years or more, but older rugs need extra TLC. Protect your family heirloom or antique piece with some regular care, and keep it looking better for longer.

Dating back to ancient times, rug weaving has always been a popular and highly-skilled trade; Persian and Oriental rugs are made by hand-knotting the fabric, creating totally unique pieces every single time. Made in a wide range of different designs, the colours available are almost limitless and they’re also available in a huge array of sizes; the smaller varieties are perfect for studies and hallways, while the larger, space covering versions make a stunning feature in any lounge or dining room. The only problem can be finding one that sits well with existing carpets – to help with this, we’ve come up with a few tips on how to contrast your Persian rug with your current floor covering successfully.

Size

When teaming Persian and Oriental rugs with existing carpets, it’s important to start by considering the size; a tiny rug in a large room that already has a floor covering will seem almost camouflaged, while a large rug can make the room seem crowded. The key to getting it right with regards to size is to follow the standard rule, and leave 18 inches worth of space around the rug – although in smaller rooms, this should be reduced accordingly.

Colour

One of the most wonderful things about Persian rugs is how colourful they are; rich reds, deep blues and sumptuous creams are all often featured, along with multiple shades of brown and green. As beautiful as the colours are, they can often prove difficult to match to other carpets and flooring; the obvious answer is to choose a neutral carpet underneath, or even to go for floorboards, but if this isn’t possible then there are other options. Persian rugs tend to be either dark or light in tone, so if your current carpet is predominantly dark, opt for one of the lighter varieties with lots of creams, pale blues and greys. If you have a pale carpet, you’re in luck; you can opt for the more complex patterns with some of the brighter colours and create a real standout feature for your home.

Pattern

Pattern-mixing in any area of the home can be tricky, but more so when it comes to flooring; the eye is automatically drawn to print and pattern, and too much can be confusing. The key to successfully mixing patterns simply comes down to the size; by keeping both patterns on a similar scale, you automatically allow them to work together rather than against each other. Another good tip is to try finding a Persian or Oriental rug with echoes of the main floor colour in the details; so for a blue carpet, try to find a rug with similar tones, and the same for red, green and so on.

Persian rugs command a certain level of interest both to the perpetual buyer and the lay-person alike. It need do nothing to sell itself other than being beautiful, comfortable and distinctive. However, there are some interesting facts that stand out amongst others:

2013 Persian Rug Auction – £21 million.

The most expensive Persian rug was sold in 2013 in the UK for over £21 million. This is of course an exception to the rule as many carpets are entirely affordable. When an item can sell for this sum of money, it’s clear that the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts.

Largest Handmade Persian Rug

Measured at over 60,000 square feet and manufactured in Iran. This is difficult to visualise so simply take into account the fact that the floor space in a standard three-bedroom home in the UK is around 1000sqft, there’s some context. Theoretically (and this probably wouldn’t work in practice), the largest handmade Persian rug could provide floor covering for 60, three-bedroom homes.

Persia, Iran, and More

Whilst many of the traditions surrounding Persian rugs have remained very similar over the past thousands of years, the name of the territory in which they have been made has a rather different tale. Over the period in which Persian rugs have been hand made in Iran, the territory we now call Iran has changed both in relation to bordering entities (i.e lost and gained territory) and has also had five official names. Median Empire Achaemenid Empire Sassanid Empire Safavid Empire Islamic Republic of Iran

The Most Politically Active Carpet

Most jurisdictions across the world prohibit the import of specific items, controlled substances and anything environmentally detrimental. But rug purchases where the rug is imported from Iran is sometimes complex owing to decisions being made in the political arena. Iran and ‘the West’ lock horns regularly on issues small and large and whilst this has very little to do with the manufacture and distribution of the iconic Persian rug, it only takes a quick Google search to see how many people are exploring the conundrum of getting a rug from Iran into their living room. No other floor covering has ever been so active in the political arena.

Although Oriental rugs and carpets were brought back to Britain by early travellers and explorers throughout the centuries, most were considered museum exhibits rather than for everyday use.

One stunning example of this is the Ardebil carpet from Persia, which dates from the 16th century and is housed at the Victoria and Albert museum in London. Considered one of the world’s most precious rugs, this exquisite piece contains more than 32 million hand-tied knots.

It was the 19th century and the booming days of empire before large scale imports of Oriental rugs and carpets really took off and these beautiful objects started to become more widely available. Even then, however, they could only be afforded by the more affluent members of society or were bought by state offices and institutions.

London was at the heart of this trade because of Britain’s strong ties with Persia and numerous other outposts in the empire, including India. The capital of the empire soon became the domestic centre and the international marketplace for buying and selling the finest oriental carpets and rugs.

Today, almost any one of the country’s great houses, stately homes or grand institutions, will have rugs or carpets from this period of Britain’s mercantile ambition and interests, which spread to every corner of the globe. London is still considered one of the main centres and is home to a huge number of warehouses stacked with a rich variety of Oriental rugs and carpets.

By the late 1800s, British and other European firms were investing in the rug industries, encouraging greater production as well as some standardization. A Manchester-based company, Ziegler & Company was one of the leading UK investors in the manufacture and export of carpets. Others followed, such as Oriental Carpet Manufacturers of London, with Persia, Turkey and India the main production centres for these and other investors.

The Shah of then Persia, Nasir al-Din was a great promoter of the rugs produced in his country and in 1876, in a brilliant piece of marketing, he presented Queen Victoria with fourteen rugs from Khurasan and Kurdistan. The carpets can still be seen on display in the Victoria and Albert museum.

Most carpets and rugs we see today in antique shops, at auction and in dealers’ rooms date from around this period. They are for the most part of excellent quality, with a richness of colour and many subtle hues and tones.

The day you brought your new oriental rug into your home, it was at its best, it was clean, well kept and it spoke a thousand words about you as its owner. Guests at your home were given the impression that you were appreciative of style, culture and proud of your home.

What about today? What is your rug saying about you now? Unfortunately these beautiful rugs aren’t indestructible even when they take only light traffic.

Here are a few things to look out for that tell you it’s time for some oriental rug TLC:

1) Marks or dirty patches

Over time your rug will accumulate dust, dirt and as this is gradual in nature over time you may not even notice until you take a good look. Why not consider taking a picture of your carpet with a digital camera (or smartphone) when it first arrives at your home (or even when it comes back from a clean) so you can make comparisons in the future. You’ll be surprised.

2) Fraying

Even the highest quality materials are subject to fraying and your rug is no exception. If there’s evidence of fraying, it’s time to take action sooner rather than later. The old English adage “a stitch in time saves nine” is rather apt here. Incidentally, the first known written instance of this phrase precedes Britain’s first Oriental rug exhibitions by over 100 years.

3) Holes

This may seem obvious, but the smallest holes are sometimes unnoticeable, until they become larger holes and are more troublesome to repair. You don’t need to be on your hands and knees with a magnifying glass but it’s worth finding holes as early as possible.

4) Colour Run

Colours are what makes your rug beautiful to the eye and this is something that should be protected as the patterns and design rely on colours being contained correctly. Colour-run is something that requires professional attention and DIY solutions have been known to exacerbate the problem or introduce new issues.

The list goes on but you should be asking yourself, “is my rug as beautiful as the day I bought it?” If not, it’s time for a check up!

RL Rose is a professional oriental and Persian rug specialist servicing rug owners across London and the home counties. The company routinely deals with cleaning and repairs and offer an uplift and delivery service seven days a week. As a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen, RL Rose excel in providing a professional and expert service